Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekalgarve’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Dekalgarve’, characterized by its decorative-type inflorescences with elliptic-shaped, light pink-colored ray florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Dekalgarve’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is co-pending with the following related application (U.S. Plant application Ser. No. 11/267,901): Title: Chrysanthemum Plant Named ‘Dekmallorca’. Applicant: Cornelis W. Dekker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium and referred to by the name ‘Dekalgarve’.

The new Chrysanthemum is the product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut Chrysanthemum cultivars with interesting inflorescence forms and attractive floret coloration.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Dec. 2, 2003, in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum identified as code number 41222, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Chrysanthemum selection identified as code number 01.5574.02, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since April, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Dekalgarve has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dekalgarve’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dekalgarve’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Decorative-type inflorescences with elliptic-shaped, light         pink-colored ray florets.     -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.     -   3. Early and uniform flowering response.     -   4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger and more durable         leaves than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger inflorescences         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the female parent         selection differed in ray floret color as plants of the female         parent selection had white-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had slightly smaller         inflorescences than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered about three to four         days earlier than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Dekmallorca. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Dekmallorca in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger inflorescences         than plants of the cultivar Dekmallorca.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were lighter         pink in color than ray florets of plants of the cultivar         Dekmallorca.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Dekalgarve’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Dekalgarve’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of upper and lower surfaces of typical leaves of ‘Dekalgarve’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 17.5° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18.5° C. to 24° C. and light levels were about five kilolux. Plants were pinched once and were about ten weeks from planting when the photographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar     Dekalgarve. -   Commercial classification: Decorative-type Chrysanthemum typically     grown as a disbud-type cut flower. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 41222,             not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number             01.5574.02, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 6 days at 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 7 days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 14 days at             20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 16 days at             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; light brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut Chrysanthemum;             typically grown as a disbud-type; erect and strong flowering             stems. Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Flowering stem description.—Length: About 70 cm to 80 cm.             Diameter: About 6 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent.             Aspect: Erect. Branching habit: Plants are typically grown             as single stems. Color: 146B.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 6 cm to 12 cm. Width: About 5 cm to 8 cm. Apex:             Cuspidate. Base: Acute. Margin: Pinnately lobed. Texture,             upper and lower surface: Pubescent; rough; leathery. Petiole             length: About 1 cm to 3 cm. Color: Developing and fully             expanded foliage, upper surface: 137A; venation, 147B.             Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 138B. Petiole, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 137C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with             elliptic-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on             terminals above foliage. Disk and ray florets develop             acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences not fragrant.             Typically grown as a disbud-type.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant             typically flower in November in the Northern Hemisphere. At             other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and             development can be induced under short day/long night             conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed             to long day/short night conditions after planting followed             by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower             about 7.5 weeks later. Early and uniform flowering response.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Cut inflorescences will maintain             good substance and form for about three weeks.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per flowering stem.—Grown as a             disbud-type, only one inflorescence per stem is allowed to             develop. Grown as a spray-type, about 12 to 15             inflorescences develop per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 11 cm to 13 cm. Depth             (height): About 4 cm to 4.5 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.2             cm.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 5 mm to 6 mm. Diameter:             About 7 mm to 9 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color: 137C to 137D.         -   Ray florets.—Length: About 2.5 cm to 5 cm. Width: About 1.2             cm to 2 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Rounded to emarginate.             Base: Acute; fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Number of ray florets per             inflorescence: About 250. Color: When opening, upper             surface: N155B to N155C. When opening, lower surface: N155D.             Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: 155D blushed with a             soft pink blush.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; elongated. Length: About 6 mm.             Width: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence:             About 30. Color: Immature: 145D. Mature: Apex: 14B.             Mid-section and base: 145C.         -   Phyllaries.—Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous.             Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:             Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147A to 147B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 3 mm. Angle: Erect. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: 138B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: No anthers observed on disc             florets. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.             Stigma length: About 4 mm. Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm.             Stigma color: Towards the apex, 151B; towards the base,             144D.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to known Chrysanthemum pathogens     and pests has not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekalgarve’, as illustrated and described. 